COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The Maryland softball team dropped two games to Atlantic Coast Conference opponent Virginia Sunday afternoon, 5-3 in the first and 3-1 in the second. The Terps (10-9, 0-2) were led by junior Kerry Hickey on the mound and at the plate in both games.

Sophomore Kathy McLaughlin, playing shortstop, had three hits on the day in her eight at-bats, while sophomore Alex Schultz, who starts at third base, hit a home run to open the Terps' scoring in the second game. Sophomore outfielder Vangie Galindo had three hits on the day as well, while Hickey and freshman outfielder Sara Acosta each had two as well.

Early in game one, the Cavs took a lead when starting pitcher Kendra Knight walked Lauren McCaskey, then Sarah Tacke singled to score McCaskey. The Cavaliers took a 1-0 lead into the bottom of the first inning.

Virginia went on to score two runs in each of the second and third innings to take a 5-0 lead. Hickey took the mound for the Terps in the top of the third. She finished the game with six strikeouts, no earned runs and just two hits.

Schultz homered to open the fourth inning. In the bottom of the seventh inning, with Galindo on second and Schultz on first, Hickey tripled down the right field line to score both and finalize the score at 5-3.

After pitching five innings in the first game, Hickey started the second as well. Virginia took an early 2-0 lead in the first and scored a run again in the third. Knight came back on in the fourth to hold the Cavs scoreless for the final few innings. She did not allow the Cavs a hit.

Hickey finished the day with 10 strikeouts and just four walks. She had two hits on the day and knocked in three RBI.

Maryland scored in game two in the bottom of the third when Hickey scored McLaughlin on a single to right field.

The Terps will head south this week to play in the Florida Rebel Games Wednesday morning. They will face Akron at 9 a.m. and Columbia at 11 a.m. Over the weekend, they will head to South Florida's tournament to take on Oklahoma State, Florida Gulf Coast, North Florida, Dartmouth and Texas Tech.

There will be no Coach Watten Show this Monday, March 15, due to spring break on campus. The show will resume next week, March 22.